Can the Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson join the 2K club as well?The Pro Bowler’s journey to 2,000 begins today, with the visitingChargers kicking off their season against the Kansas CityChiefs.

But Tomlinson’s chief goal, after setting a team mark with 1,683rushing yards in 2002, isn’t having Simpson, Dickerson, Sanders andDavis make room for him.

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Instead, it’s having the Chargers’ season extend pastDecember.

“I really don’t think about 2,000 at all,” said Tomlinson, whoset a team record with 2,172 total yards last year. “It’sobtainable, but it’s not something you can sit and think about. Youdon’t think about gaining 2,000 yards because that’s not theimportant thing.

“It’s a team game, and you know the first thing on your mindshould be winning, because if I have 2,000 yards and we go 5-11again, nobody will care.”

Few Bolts care more about the scoreboard than Tomlinson. Whileothers crank up the locker-room music and shrug their shouldersafter a loss, Tomlinson’s shoulders droop with disappointment. Heopened eyes in November when he revealed his feelings after theChargers squandered a victory in St. Louis.

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He talked about the team’s lack of heart. He talked in serioustones. He talked like someone frustrated with seeing too manynumbers under the loss column.

“He wants to win,” fullback Lorenzo Neal said. “For a young guy,he is very experienced and very mature. He takes on the leadershiprole.”

That’s why the 2,000-yard milestone doesn’t ring Tomlinson’sbell. Instead, the figure he longs for is 10. That’s the number ofwins likely needed to plop the Chargers into the playoffs for thefirst time since 1995.

Otherwise, 2,000 might as well be 2.

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“It’s like everyone would say, ‘He’s rushing for 2,000 yards,but the guys are losers. So what is he really doing for his team?’” Tomlinson said. “Now I hope if you got 2,000 yards, you wouldn’tbe 5-11. How crazy would that be?”

Nearly as wild as a third-year pro from Texas ChristianUniversity already placing himself among the NFL’s elite backs.Tomlinson, who has exceeded 100 rushing yards in a game 11 times(and 200 yards twice, both last year) aims for his third straight1,000-yard season. Only 13 other players have done it.

But those achievements don’t surprise the humble, and polite,bruiser from Rosebud, Texas. That the 24-year-old’s career hasblossomed this quickly isn’t a shock.

“No, not really,” said Tomlinson, who has collected 25touchdowns in 32 games. “They put the ball in my hands, and Ialways felt like I had the ability and potential to be successfulin the NFL.

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“I think it has to do with just my work ethic. I’ve always beena believer that hard work pays off for you. The harder your work,the more your ability and all that talent will make you that muchmore successful.”

The offseason handiwork of general manger A.J. Smith could addto Tomlinson’s production. Pro Bowl wide receiver David Boston wasacquired to keep defenses honest, as they must respect his big-playpotential instead of focusing on the run. Smith added Neal, anotherPro Bowler, to clear lanes for Tomlinson. Another key pickup wasright guard Solomon Page, who has helped solidify an improvingfront line.

“You like to run behind guys that have a nasty mentality,” the5-foot-10, 221-pound Tomlinson said. “And they really work well asa group.”

The recent group of backs running behind Neal, an 11-year pro,doesn’t stop until reaching 1,000. The last six years have seen thetailback trailing Neal rush for a grand.

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“He’s like an offensive lineman; he is just able to do so manythings,” Tomlinson said of Neal. “Just as far as his ability thathe has. From a veteran standpoint, with him being in the league solong, there are not many things that can cross him that he hasn’tseen.”

Don’t be quick to scratch 2,000 yards from Tomlinson’s can-dolist. He just would rather gain respect for a franchise that hasn’tenjoyed a winning season for seven straight years.

“This year, everything is in position for this team to be reallygood,” Tomlinson said. “If we made the playoffs, it would say thatthings are changing. The playoffs are always the goal, but you wantto be a team that, year in and year out, is in the playoffs.

“Things would change around here if we could make that firstplayoff. Then we’ll have that confidence, as far as that winningtradition, as far as knowing how to get there.”

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To reach 2,000, stick the ball in Tomlinson’s gut. But Tomlinsonprefers sticking it to prognosticators who predict anotherplayoff-free season for the Chargers.

CHARGERS ON OFFENSE

Wow, here’s a switch: the Chargers having a number of weapons tolean on. WR David Boston will open some eyes with his biceps andbig-play ability, which complements the hard-nosed running ofLaDainian Tomlinson, behind FB Lorenzo Neal. Still, Tomlinsonremains the gold nugget in coach Marty Schottenheimer’s scheme, andthe Chargers will try to wear out the Chiefs with a heavy dose ofTomlinson. The Chiefs are hoping not to employ their No. 32 defensethis year -- a mocking of their dead last starting in ’02 -- afterupgrading with LB Shawn Barber and DE Vonnie Holliday. If theChargers do go to the air -- Drew Brees is usually solid againstthe Chiefs -- they might catch a break. The Chiefs are down acornerback in William Bartee (ankle), and he’ll be replaced byDexter McCleon; the nickel back becomes rookie Julian Battle. TheChargers have plenty of questions on offense, but not as many asthe Chiefs on defense.

CHARGERS

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CHARGERS ON DEFENSE

Youth will be served up on a big platter in the Midwest’sbarbecue capital. Those youngsters at both corners, and at nickelback, will be tested repeatedly by QB Trent Green and his numeroustargets. Keep an eye on LDE Marcellus Wiley and his battle with RTJohn Tait. If Wiley can skate past Tait, it will give a hand to thekids on the backside. Otherwise, Green will choose between TE TonyGonzalez and WRs Johnnie Morton, Eddie Kennison and Marc Boerigter.If that was all, the Chargers could breathe deep. But the Chiefsalso offer shifty RB Priest Holmes, who can take defenses’ breathaway. It’ll be interesting to see if Holmes, coming off a seriouship injury, has the same hop in his step. Word is, he does, whichmeans run-stuffing DT Jamal Williams and LBs Zeke Moreno, DonnieEdwards and Ben Leber need to bring their A game.

CHIEFS

SPECIAL TEAMS

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Eric Parker beat out Tim Dwight for the Chargers’punt-returner’s job -- no small feat. Dwight, though, will take hiswiggle to kick returns. Steve Christie is always reliable for theChargers, as long as he’s inside 40 yards. The Chargers will betracking the excitable Dante Hall, who has more stops and startsthan Friday afternoon drivers going north on I-15. K MortenAndersen, at age 43, is among the rare NFL players who can makeDoug Flutie feel young. Andersen doesn’t have the leg strength heonce possessed, but there’s few cooler customers with the game onthe line. The Chiefs aren’t that high on Jason Baker; word was theywere primed to make a run at Darren Bennett if the Aussie didn’tmake the Chargers’ final cut.

CHARGERS

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Chargers need to start fast, for a couple of reasons. Ifthey can forge ahead, it helps take the vocal rowdies at ArrowheadStadium out of the equation. It also keeps Tomlinson as an activeparticipant in the play-calling, as the Chargers won’t have toditch their running game by falling behind. With the noise down,Brees can go through his checkoffs and the Chargers’ chances offalse starts reduces considerably. But the Chiefs are revved forcoach Dick Vermeil’s third year -- similar seasons in Philadelphia(playoffs) and St. Louis (Super Bowl winner) paid big dividends.Like the countless hunks of prime beef marinating in the localrestaurants, the Chargers’ youngsters are going to be aged afterthis outing. These Chargers DBs might be good one day, but it’salmost unfair asking them to slow the Chiefs right off the bat.

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CHIEFS 27 CHARGERS 17

ANOTHER VIEW

Adam Teicher, Kansas City Star

Young Chargers corners are going to find life is tougher in theNFL than in college.